Bookings are now open for the Stone Federation's Natural Stone Awards taking place Friday 6 December at London's Leonardo Royal Hotel Tower Bridge.

Nominations for the Emerging Talent Awards – which takes place during The Stone Show & Hard Surfaces 2025 – are now open

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has unveiled the six projects shortlisted for the prestigious 2024 RIBA Stirling Prize, the highest accolade in UK architecture. This year's shortlist showcases a diverse array of innovative and impactful designs, reflecting a broad spectrum of architectural achievement.

Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) is welcoming applications from eligible craftspeople who can apply for up to £18,000 in funding for Scholarships, up to £10,000 for Emerging Maker Grants and up to £12,000 for Apprenticeship training.

The SPAB Heritage Awards will return in 2024 with five categories celebrating the best historic buildings and traditional craftspeople in the UK and Republic of Ireland. The biannual awards are organised by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) to recognise excellence across the building conservation sector.

A stone carving festival returned to Wells in Somerset for the May Day bank holiday weekend this year and, as former editor of Stone Specialist, Eric Bignell reports, it was a real success. Held at the Tythe Barn in Britain's smallest cathedral city, the event was organised by local mason Paul Roddan, who had also organised the first carving festival there in 2018.

The Civic Trust Awards recently celebrated its 65th Anniversary with an awards ceremony held at The Concorde Conference Centre, Altrincham. More than 320 projects were entered from across the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Lithuania, Malta, Poland and USA, reflecting the schemes continuing international reach

There's just a couple of weeks left to enter the largest multi-trade skills competition in the UK for construction trainees and apprentices

The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) and Heritage Crafts Sustainability Award returns again in 2024 and applications will close on 24 May

The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) is now welcoming applications from talented craftspeople – including stonemasons – who are looking to further their careers.